Gate-latch.



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GATE LATCH! 'APPLICATION FILED 58.16, |918..

mmm Apr. 30, 1918.

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wrLLmivi n. Worwon, or enanas, iowa.

GATE-LATCH.

Specification of Letters Patent.

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Application led February 16, 1918. Serial No. 217,610.

' use in connection with a substantially horizontally swinging gateandit is an object of the invention to provide a novel and improvedlatch of this general character comprising a pair of. verticallymovablehold ing members normally maintained at the limit of their upwardmovement and which receive therebetween ythe forwardly directedextension or latch bar carried by the gate for holding the' gate inclosedposit-ion.

- lt is also an object of the invention to4 provide a novel and improvedlatch of this general character including vertically movable memberstogether with means for protecting said members against the elements,and particularly ice and sleet so that the efficiency of the latch willnot be impaired during the winter season.

Another object of the invention is to provide a novel and improved latchcomprising two vertically movable members between which the forwardlydirected extension or latch bar of the gate is adapted to be seated andwhereby said members may be readily depressed by a person at either sideof the ate. Y Y g The invention consists in theY details of constructionand in the combination and arrangement of the several parts of myimproved gate latch whereby certain important v advantagesare attainedand the device ren dered simpler, less expensive and otherwise moreconvenient and advantageous for. use, as will behereinafter more fullyset forth.

The novel features .of my invention will hereinafter be definitelyclaimed.

In order that my invention may be the better understood,l l will nowproceed to describe the same with reference to the accompanyingdrawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a view in front elevation of a gate latch constructed inaccordance withV an embodiment of my invention in applied Woiwon,

positiom thecoaoting extension or latch bar of the gate being shown insection;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary view in side elevation illustrating my improvedgate latch `in applied position;

F ig. 3 is a longitudinal vertical sectional as herein set forth; andFig.` 4- 1s a sectional view taken substantially on the line 4-4 of`Fig. 3.

As disclosed in the accompanying drawings L denotes a latch post havingdisposed transversely across its outer face aplate 1 having its upperandlower margins defined by the outstanding flanges 2 and 3. rlhe upperflange 3 serves as a roof or guard for the vertically movable latchmembers L to be hereinafter more particularly referred to and wherebysaid members L and their concomitant parts are effectively protectedagainst the elements and particularly ice and sleet.

Each 'of` the latch members L is substantially inthe form of an invertedl. with the outer end portion of its stem 4f suitably en gaged Awith aspring hinge 5 which` is also suitably anchored .to an end portion ofthe flange 2. The action of the spring hinge 5 serves to constantly`urge the latch member upwardly. The foot 6 of the latch member isdirected through a transversely disposed slot 7 p'roducedin the bottomiiange 2A and the lower or free end of said foot 6 is provided with aninwardly directed lip or eX- tension 8 adapted to contact with the endsurface of the bottom flange 2 whereby the upward movement of the latchL under the influence of the spring hinge 5 is positively limited.f

The stems 4L of the latches are of such length as to have the feet V6`of the latch view taken through my improved gate latch members inpredetermined spaced relation longitudinally of the` flange 2 to afforda space or seat therebetween to receive a forwardly directedl extensionor latch bar 9 carried by the gate G. -The gate G is herein disclosed asof a type mounted for swinging movement in substantiallya horizontalplane., `As the gate Gr is swung toward the v post P, the extension orbar 9 will ride over the barhas passed entirely along the stem i of thelatch member, said member willv be Cfr Also secured to "the ring 11 aretheflexible members or chainsl' extendingdownwardly in divergence andsuitably secured at their lower ends tothe vertically swinging leversv14 engaged with the outer face of the post P' in close lpi'oxiiiiityEtov the ground Vand adjacent the opposite vertical margins there-v of.The levers 14, are of a'leiigth to extend beyond the "side faces of Ythepost so: thatlrsaid l extended levers may be readily depressed by afootwhen is :desiredlto lower thev latch members'L to open the gate G.

As isparticularly illustratedv inthe ac? companying drawings, the innerend portion of each of'the levels is pivotally engaged as at v15 withthe outer face ofthe post and theflexible memberfor'clhain 12 coactiiigtherewith is'engaged with said lever at a point intermediateits pivotalconnection"1 5"and its' louter or extended extremity.

Each of the feet 6 of the latch members possesses siiiiicientlinherent'resiliency as to contactwvith Ythe inner longitudinal'inarginalportionv ofthe s'lot'f? so' that the proper Contact of the extension orlipl S carried with the under surface of the fla-nge. 2 is assured. lltis also to' be noted that the extension or lip 8 islof a width slightlyless than the width of the slot v7 so that the same may be readilypassed' therethrough when 'latch post' or the like, the upper and lowerlongitudinal margins being provided with outstanding flanges, the lowerAflanges being provided with a paii` of transversely disposed slots atsubstantially the centerV thereof,`a pair of latch members eachsubvstantially in the foii'n of an inverted L with .the stein thereofLoutwardly directed, a springhinge securing tlieouter cud poi-- tion ofthe stem to the lower flange and ,serving to constantly urge said4 stemupfwardly, the feet of the latch members being disposed through theopening in the lower flange and provided at its lowei' end with theinwardly directed lip arranged for coiitact with the bottom flange forlimiting the upward 'movement of the latch nieiiiber, and

means engageable with ythe llips of both of the latch ineni'bers formoving said inembers downwardly-` l l 2. A gate latch consisting of aplate adapty ed to be disposed transversely of a `latch post orthe like,the upper andflowei' longitudinal margins lbeing provided withoutstanding Y flanges, the lowe'r flange being provided with thevariousparts comprised vin my improved latch are' beingk assembled. n

The hinges'f as herein disclosed are'of a leaf type and the lower leaf athereof coacting* withY the lower flange 2 is detacliably engaged withthe liange `2 so that lwhen def s'ired thel latch members L' may bereadily removed or applied. This ldetachable fea-'fiboth of saidlflexible members,y and means l engageablc jwith said couplingmember forture is'of special importanoe,` in4 the lwinter season lasv it permitsgthe l removal of, the latch members at the time of,a snow storm as itmay beppossiblel'that the snow would i sary movement Yof, they membersL.. ,A

From ,th'e foregoing description; it/vis thought'tobe obvious that gatelatchl con#l structed in accordance with myv invention choke yorotherwise interfere `with the necesa pair of transversely disposed slotsat`substantially the center thereof,"a pair of latch members eachsubstantially in the form of an invert/ed L with the stem thereofoutwardly directed, a spring hinge securing the outer end portion of thestein to the lower flange and serving to constantly urge said stemupwardly7 ythe feet of the latch member being disposed through theopening in the lower flange andprovided at its lower end with aninwardly directed lip arranged for Contact with the'bottom flange forlimiting the upward movement of the Alatch lmember, a flexible memberengaged with the lip`,A a coupling member coacting with ,impartingdownward movement to the vlatch members. u I

3. In coinbiiiatioirwith a latch post, a`

plate disposed transversely of the post, and having its upper and lowermargins provided withv outstanding flanges, the lower flange Ibeingprovided nat substantially its is particularly'-well adapted Vfor useby/ reason of the'convenience and facility with whichit :may bey and itwill, also be obvious lthat my invention is susceptiblel ofsome changevwithout departing', from lthe principles and spirit thereof land' fr'-thisv 'reason ido' notc wish assembled and operatedf center with a pairo f transversely disposed slots. a'fpair of latch members, each of saidlatch membersbeiiig substantially in the form of an invertedl. ,and liaving the outer end portion of its stem outwardly directed and pivotallyengaged with the lower fiangathestem ofthe latch member being disposedthrough an: opening in the lower iiok ini'

flange, means coacting with the stems of.

ton of the latch post, flexible members en- Y gaged with the lower endportions of the feet of the latch members, a member with which saidflexible members are engaged, and connections between the levers and themember whereby downward movement of 1oether of the Y levers impartsdownward movement to the latch members.

In testimony whereof I hereunto affix my signature in the presence oftwo witnesses."

- WILLAM A. WOWOD. Witnesses: F. E. BLAoKsToNE, W. H. RAMSAY.

@epilee of this patent may be obtained-for ve cents each, by addressingthe lommisioner of Patente.

Y v v aehlnomm. G.

